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PRELIMINARY DRAFT 1

DESCRIPTION OF THE ROOT RIVER WATERSHED

The Root River watershed is located in the east central portion of the Southeastern Wisconsin Region and covers

an area of approximately 198 square miles. The mainstem of the Root River originates in southwestern

Milwaukee County and flows approximately 44 miles in a southerly and easterly direction to its confluence with

Lake Michigan in the City of Racine in Racine County. Tributaries of the Root River extend into Kenosha,

Milwaukee, Racine, and Waukesha Counties. Rivers and streams in the watershed are part of the Lake Michigandrainage system as the watershed lies east of the subcontinental divide. The boundaries of the basin, together with

the locations of the main channels of the Root River watershed and its principal tributaries, are shown on

Map IX-1. While the Root River watershed contains no lakes with a surface area of 50 acres or more, it does

contain several named lakes and ponds.

Civil Divisions

Superimposed on the watershed boundary is a pattern of local political boundaries. As shown on Map IX-2, the

watershed lies in Kenosha, Milwaukee, Racine, and Waukesha Counties. Nineteen civil divisions lie in part or

entirely within the Root River watershed, as also shown on Map IX-2 and Table IX-1. Geographic boundaries of

the civil divisions are an important factor which must be considered in the regional management plan update since

the civil divisions form the basic foundation of the public decision making framework within which inter-

governmental, environmental, and developmental problems must be addressed.

#138076 V1 - ROOT RIVER WATERSHED BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR SWWT

07/02/08



2 PRELIMINARY DRAFT

Table IX-2

LAND USE IN THE ROOT RIVER WATERSHED: 1970-2000a,b

1970 1990 2000 Change 1970-2000

CategorySquareMiles

Percentof Total

SquareMiles

Percentof Total

SquareMiles

Percentof Total

SquareMiles Percent

UrbanResidential ................................. 24.4 12.4 30.5 15.5 34.5 17.5 10.1 41.4Commercial ................................ 1.5 0.8 2.4 1.2 2.8 1.4 1.3 86.7Industrial and Extractive ............. 1.6 0.8 1.8 0.9 2.6 1.3 1.0 62.5Transportation, Communication,

and Utilitiesc............................ 13.0 6.6 14.0 7.1 16.7 8.6 3.7 28.5Governmental and Institutional .. 2.4 1.2 2.7 1.4 3.0 1.5 0.6 25.0Recreational ............................... 3.9 2.0 4.5 2.3 5.0 2.5 1.1 28.2

Subtotal 46.8 23.8 55.9 28.4 64.6 32.8 17.8 38.0

RuralAgricultural and Related ............. 121.3 61.6 110.2 55.9 99.5 50.5 -21.8 -18.0Water .............. ................ ............ 1.2 0.6 1.5 0.8 1.6 0.8 0.4 33.3Wetlands ................. ................ ... 9.4 4.7 10.3 5.2 10.9 5.6 1.5 16.0Woodlands ................ ................. 8.1 4.1 8.1 4.1 7.6 3.9 -0.5 -6.2Unused and Other

Open Lands ............................ 10.2 5.2 11.0 5.6 12.7 6.4 2.5 24.5

Subtotal 150.2 76.2 141.1 71.6 132.3 67.2 -17.8 -11.9

Total 197.0 100.0 197.0 100.0 197.0 100.0 0.0 - -

a As approximated by whole U.S. Public Land Survey one-quarter sections.

b As part of the regional land use inventory for the year 2000, the delineation of existing land use was referenced to real property boundary information not available for prior inventories. This change increases the precision of the land use inventory and makes it more usable to

public agencies and private interests throughout the Region. As a result of the change, however, year 2000 land use inventory data are not strictly comparable with data from the 1990 and prior inventories. At the county and regional level, the most significant effect of the change isto increase the transportation, communication, and utilities category, the result of the use of narrower estimated right-of-ways in prior inventories. The treatment of streets and highways generally diminishes the area of adjacent land uses traversed by those streets and highways in the 2000 land use inventory relative to prior inventories.

c Off-street parking of more than 10 spaces are included with the associated land use.

Source: SEWRPC.



PRELIMINARY DRAFT 3

Table IX-21

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTANT LOADS IN THE ROOT RIVER WATERSHEDa

Subwatershed

TotalPhosphorus

(pounds)

TotalSuspended

Solids(pounds)

FecalColiform Bacteria(trillions of cells)

TotalNitrogen(pounds)

BiochemicalOxygen Demand

(pounds)Copper

(pounds)

Lower Root River ................................ 23,420 20,951,670 3,494.25 281,100 793,570 575Middle Root River ............................... 8,910 6,730,640 1,640.24 100,830 292,300 264Upper Root River ................................ 6,170 1,937,170 2,203.71 39,830 176,230 307Hoods Creek ....................................... 6,630 7,945,110 695.42 103,380 252,700 133Root River Canal ................................. 4,900 7,162,240 277.27 91,120 239,010 57East Branch Root River Canal ............ 7,310 10,889,460 466.35 134,680 403,190 91West Branch Root River Canal ........... 16,930 25,671,040 1,012.74 312,440 906,830 189East Branch Root River ...................... 1,840 723,490 557.12 14,600 50,320 79Whitnall Park Creek ............................ 4,660 1,748,700 1,410.11 38,090 130,360 201

Total 80,770 83,759,520 11,757.21 1,116,070 3,244,510 1,896

aLoads from groundwater are included. The results are annual averages based on simulation of year 2000 land use conditions. Thesimulations were made using meteorological data from 1988 through 1997, which is a representative rainfall period for the study area.

Source: Tetra Tech, Inc.

Table IX-22

AVERAGE ANNUAL PER ACRE NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTANT LOADS IN THE ROOT RIVER WATERSHEDa

Subwatershed

TotalPhosphorus

(poundsper acre)

TotalSuspended Solids(pounds per acre)

Fecal ColiformBacteria

(trillions of cells per acre)

TotalNitrogen(poundsper acre)

BiochemicalOxygen Demand(pounds per acre)

Copper (poundsper acre)

Lower Root River............................. 0.68 611 0.10 8.20 23.15 0.017Middle Root River ............................ 0.58 435 0.11 6.52 18.89 0.017Upper Root River............................. 0.60 189 0.22 3.89 17.22 0.030

Hoods Creek ................................... 0.66 789 0.07 10.27 25.10 0.013Root River Canal ............................. 0.64 932 0.04 11.86 31.12 0.007East Branch Root River Canal ........ 0.74 1,098 0.05 13.58 40.66 0.009West Branch Root River Canal ....... 0.67 1,017 0.04 12.37 35.92 0.007East Branch Root River ................... 0.60 237 0.19 4.79 16.50 0.026Whitnall Park Creek......................... 0.49 183 0.15 3.99 13.66 0.021

aLoads from groundwater are included. The results are annual averages based on simulation of year 2000 land use conditions. Thesimulations were made using meteorological data from 1988 through 1997, which is a representative rainfall period for the study area.




4 PRELIMINARY DRAFT

Table IX-23

AVERAGE ANNUAL LOADS OF TOTAL PHOSPHORUS IN THE ROOT RIVER WATERSHEDa

Point Sources Nonpoint Sources

Subwatershed

IndustrialPoint

Sources

(pounds)

SSOs

(pounds)

SewageTreatment

Plants

(pounds)

Subtotal

(pounds)

Urban

(pounds)

Rural

(pounds)

Subtotal

(pounds)

Total

(pounds)Lower Root River............................... 130 10 0 140 8,750 14,670 23,420 23,560Middle Root River .............................. 0 0 0 0 3,780 5,130 8,910 8,910Upper Root River............................... 0 <10 0 <10 6,000 170 6,170 6,170Hoods Creek ..................................... 0 0 940 940 1,020 5,610 6,630 7,570Root River Canal ............................... 0 0 0 0 180 4,720 4,900 4,900East Branch Root River Canal .......... 0 0 220 220 430 6,880 7,310 7,530West Branch Root River Canal ......... <10 0 1,990 1,990 1,040 15,890 16,930 18,920East Branch Root River ..................... 0 0 0 0 1,660 180 1,840 1,840Whitnall Park Creek........................... 0 <10 0 <10 3,650 1,010 4,660 4,660

Total 130 10 3,150 3,290 26,510 54,260 80,770 84,060

Percent of Total Load 0.2 <0.1 3.7 3.9 31.5 64.6 96.1 100.0

aLoads from groundwater are included. The results are annual averages based on simulation of year 2000 land use conditions and approximated current point source loads and wastewater conveyance, storage, and treatment system operating conditions. The simulations

were made using meteorological data from 1988 through 1997, which is a representative rainfall period for the study area.


Table IX-24

AVERAGE ANNUAL LOADS OF TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS IN THE ROOT RIVER WATERSHEDa


Subwatershed

IndustrialPoint

Sources(pounds)

SSOs(pounds)

SewageTreatment

Plants(pounds)

Subtotal(pounds)

Urban(pounds)

Rural(pounds)

Subtotal(pounds)

Total(pounds)

Lower Root River .................................. 480 710 0 1,190 2,781,990 18,169,680 20,951,670 20,952,860

Middle Root River ................................. 0 0 0 0 1,290,740 5,439,900 6,730,640 6,730,640Upper Root River .................................. 0 80 0 80 1,918,200 18,970 1,937,170 1,937,250Hoods Creek ......................................... 0 0 1,060 1,060 536,060 7,409,050 7,945,110 7,946,170Root River Canal ................................... 0 0 0 0 114,030 7,048,210 7,162,240 7,162,240East Branch Root River Canal .............. 0 0 450 450 271,250 10,618,210 10,889,460 10,889,910West Branch Root River Canal ............. 0 0 8,890 8,890 468,430 25,202,610 25,671,040 25,679,930East Branch Root River ......................... 0 0 0 0 494,130 229,360 723,490 723,490Whitnall Park Creek .............................. 0 240 0 240 1,112,640 636,060 1,748,700 1,748,940

Total 480 1,030 10,400 11,910 8,987,470 74,772,050 83,759,520 83,771,430

Percent of Total Load <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 10.7 89.3 100 100.0

aLoads from groundwater are included. The results are annual averages based on simulation of year 2000 land use conditions and approximated current point source loads and wastewater conveyance, storage, and treatment system operating conditions. The simulations were made using meteorological data from 1988 through 1997, which is a representative rainfall period for the study area.




PRELIMINARY DRAFT 5

Table IX-25

AVERAGE ANNUAL LOADS OF FECAL COLIFORM BACTERIA IN THE ROOT RIVER WATERSHEDa


Subwatershed

IndustrialPoint

Sources(trillionsof cells)

SSOs(trillionsof cells)

SewageTreatment

Plants(trillionsof cells)

Subtotal(trillionsof cells)

Urban(trillionsof cells)

Rural(trillionsof cells)

Subtotal(trillionsof cells)

Total(trillionsof cells)

Lower Root River .......... ............ .......... 0.00 13.58 0.00 13.58 2,641.12 853.13 3,494.25 3,507.83Middle Root River ............ ........... ......... 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,323.10 317.14 1,640.24 1,640.24Upper Root River ............ ............ ........ 0.00 1.55 0.00 1.55 2,202.96 0.75 2,203.71 2,205.26Hoods Creek ........... ............ ............ .... 0.00 0.00 0.30 0.30 418.83 276.59 695.42 695.72Root River Canal ........... ............ .......... 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 96.48 180.79 277.27 277.27East Branch Root River Canal ............ 0.00 0.00 0.14 0.14 215.12 251.23 466.35 466.49West Branch Root River Canal ........... 0.00 0.00 2.85 2.85 451.94 560.80 1,012.74 1,015.59East Branch Root River ........... ........... . 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 554.63 2.49 557.12 557.12

Whitnall Park Creek .......... ............ ...... 0.00 4.52 0.00 4.52 1,309.52 100.59 1,410.11 1,414.63

Total 0.00 19.65 3.29 22.94 9,213.70 2,543.51 11,757.21 11,780.15

Percent of Total Load 0 0.2 <0.1 0.2 78.2 21.6 99.8 100.0

aLoads from groundwater are included. The results are annual averages based on simulation of year 2000 land use conditions and approximated current point source loads and wastewater conveyance, storage, and treatment system operating conditions. The simulations were made using

meteorological data from 1988 through 1997, which is a representative rainfall period for the study area.


Table IX-26

AVERAGE ANNUAL LOADS OF TOTAL NITROGEN IN THE ROOT RIVER WATERSHEDa


Subwatershed

IndustrialPoint

Sources(pounds)

SSOs(pounds)

SewageTreatment

Plants(pounds)

Subtotal(pounds)

Urban(pounds)

Rural(pounds)

Subtotal(pounds)

Total(pounds)

Lower Root River................................. 540 30 0 570 48,810 232,290 281,100 281,670

Middle Root River ................................ 0 0 0 0 24,170 76,660 100,830 100,830Upper Root River................................. 0 <10 0 <10 38,610 1,220 39,830 39,830Hoods Creek ....................................... 0 0 3,980 3,980 6,060 97,320 103,380 107,360Root River Canal ................................. 0 0 0 0 1,180 89,940 91,120 91,120East Branch Root River Canal ............ 0 0 1,820 1,820 2,600 132,080 134,680 136,500West Branch Root River Canal ........... <10 0 20,720 20,720 6,720 305,720 312,440 333,160East Branch Root River ....................... 0 0 0 0 10,570 4,030 14,600 14,600Whitnall Park Creek............................. 0 10 0 10 23,440 14,650 38,090 38,100

Total 540 40 26,520 27,100 162,160 953,910 1,116,070 1,143,170


aLoads from groundwater are included. The results are annual averages based on simulation of year 2000 land use conditions and approximated current point source loads and wastewater conveyance, storage, and treatment system operating conditions. The simulationswere made using meteorological data from 1988 through 1997, which is a representative rainfall period for the study area.




6 PRELIMINARY DRAFT

Table IX-27

AVERAGE ANNUAL LOADS OF BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND IN THE ROOT RIVER WATERSHEDa


Subwatershed

IndustrialPoint

Sources

(pounds)

SSOs

(pounds)

SewageTreatment

Plants

(pounds)

Subtotal

(pounds)

Urban

(pounds)

Rural

(pounds)

Subtotal

(pounds)

Total

(pounds)Lower Root River............................... 820 180 0 1,000 215,660 577,910 793,570 794,570Middle Root River .............................. 0 0 0 0 105,600 186,700 292,300 292,300Upper Root River............................... 0 20 0 20 169,850 6,380 176,230 176,250Hoods Creek ..................................... 0 0 990 990 37,740 214,960 252,700 253,690Root River Canal ............................... 0 0 0 0 8,330 230,680 239,010 239,010East Branch Root River Canal .......... 0 0 750 750 19,720 383,470 403,190 403,940West Branch Root River Canal ......... 10 0 11,280 11,290 36,630 870,200 906,830 918,120East Branch Root River ..................... 0 0 0 0 42,060 8,260 50,320 50,320Whitnall Park Creek........................... 0 60 0 60 99,220 31,140 130,360 130,420

Total 830 260 13,020 14,110 734,810 2,509,700 3,244,510 3,258,620

Percent of Total Load <0.1 <0.1 0.4 0.4 22.6 77.0 99.6 100.0

aLoads from groundwater are included. The results are annual averages based on simulation of year 2000 land use conditions and approximated current point source loads and wastewater conveyance, storage, and treatment system operating conditions. The simulations

were made using meteorological data from 1988 through 1997, which is a representative rainfall period for the study area.


Table IX-28

AVERAGE ANNUAL LOADS OF COPPER IN THE ROOT RIVER WATERSHEDa


Subwatershed

IndustrialPoint

Sources(pounds)

SSOs(pounds)

SewageTreatment

Plants(pounds)

Subtotal(pounds)

Urban(pounds)

Rural(pounds)

Subtotal(pounds)

Total(pounds)

Lower Root River.................................. 3 <1 0 3 404 171 575 578Middle Root River ................................. 0 0 0 0 194 70 264 264Upper Root River.................................. 0 <1 0 <1 305 2 307 307Hoods Creek ................ ................ ........ 0 0 4 4 69 64 133 137Root River Canal ................ ................ .. 0 0 0 0 15 42 57 57East Branch Root River Canal ............. 0 0 1 1 36 55 91 92West Branch Root River Canal ............ 0 0 35 35 67 122 189 224East Branch Root River ............... ......... 0 0 0 0 77 2 79 79Whitnall Park Creek.............................. 0 <1 0 <1 181 20 201 201

Total 3 <1 40 43 1,348 548 1,896 1,939


aLoads from groundwater are included. The results are annual averages based on simulation of year 2000 land use conditions and approximated current point source loads and wastewater conveyance, storage, and treatment system operating conditions. The simulationswere made using meteorological data from 1988 through 1997, which is a representative rainfall period for the study area.




PRELIMINARY DRAFT 7

Figure IX-51

PROPORTION OF SAMPLES FOR SEVERAL CONSTITUENTS MEETING WATER QUALITYSTANDARDS AND CRITERIA ALONG THE MAINSTEM OF THE ROOT RIVER: 1975-2004

DISSOLVED OXYGEN

1975-1986 1987-1993 1994-1997 1998-2004

P e r c e n t

0

20

40

60

80

100

FECAL COLIFORM BACTERIA

1975-1986 1987-1993 1994-1997 1998-2004

P e r c e n t

0

20

40

60

80

100

1975-1986 1987-1993 1994-1997 1998-2004

P e r c e n t

0

20

40

60

80

100

TEMPERATURE

1975-1986 1987-1993 1994-1997 1998-2004

P e r c e n t

0

20

40

60

80

100

AMMONIA

TOTAL PHOSPHORUS

1975-1986 1987-1993 1994-1997 1998-2004

P e r c e n t

0

20

40

60

80

100

PeriodPeriod

PeriodPeriod

Period

Samples Not Meeting Water Quality Standards and Criteria

Samples Meeting Water Quality Standards and Criteria

Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, and City of Racine Health Department.



BAY

WIND

NORTH

POINT

UNION

GROVE

ELMWOOD

PARK

WATERFORD

STURTEVANT

WEST

GREENDALE

MILWAUKEE

CORNERS

HALES

M OU NT P LE ASANT

Do ver

Nor wayRaymond

Yorkville

Caledonia

Paris Somers

M I L W A U K E E

C O .

W A U

K E S H A

C O .

R A C I N E C O .

M IL WA UK E E C O .

K E N O S H A C O .

R A C I N E C O .

MUSKEGO

NEW BERLIN

BROOKFIELD

RACINE

ST.

KENOSHA

SOUTH

CUDAHY

FRANCIS

FRANKLIN OAK

MILWAUKEE

MILWAUKEE

GREENFIELD

WEST

ALLIS

CREEK

18

241

45

41

41

45

45

36

100

119

100

32

794

59

36

31

32

38

20

20

11

11

164

38

24

59

31

142

32

32

36

24

94

94

94

43

794

894

894

43

43

94

94

41

Upper Root River

Subwatershed

Middle Root River Subwatershed

Lower Root River

Subwatershed

Root River Canal

Subwatershed

West Branch Root

River Canal Subwatershed

East BranchRoot River Canal

Subwatershed

Hoods Creek

Subwatershed

Whitnall Park Creek

Subwatershed

East Branch

Root River Subwatershed

C R E E K

Y O R K V I

L L E

C R E E K

W ES T

B R A N C H

R O O T

R I V

E R

C A N

A L

B R A N C H

E A S T

R O O T

R I V E R

C A N

A L

I V E SG R O

V E D I TCH

H O O D S

C R E E

K

R O O T

R I V E R

R O O T

R I V E R

H U S H E R

C R E E K

R A YMO N D

R O O T

R I V E R

C A N A L

R Y A N

C R E E K

TE S S C R E E K

C OR N E RS

W H I T N A L L P A R K

C R E E K

D A L E

C R E E

K

QUARRY LAKE

UPPER KELLY LAKE

LOWER KELLY LAKE

W H ITNALL PARK POND

MONASTERY

LAKE BRITTANY

LAKE

BOERNER PONDS 1,2 ,AND 3

ROOT RIVER PARKWAY POND

LAKE SCOUT

MU D LAKE

LAKE K O EPMIER

H.S. POND F RA NKLIN

DUMKES LAKE

C R A Y F I S H

C R E E

K

H A L E

C R E E K

W I L D C A T C R E E K

C R E E K L EG

E N D

KELLY

LAKE

UPPER

TRIB.

R O O T

R I V E R

E A S T

ROOT R I V E R

B R

A N

C H

Map IX-1

SURFACE WATER WITHIN THE ROOT RIVER WATERSHED: 2000

PRELIMINARY DRAFT

L A K E

M I C H I G A N

WATERSHED BOUNDARY

SUBWATERSHED BOUNDARY

SURFACE WATER

SUBCONTINENTAL DIVIDE

Source: SEWRPC.

GRAPHIC SCALE

0 0.75 1.5 2.25 3

Miles

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000

Feet

2



BAY

WIND

NORTH

POINT

UNION

GROVE

ELMWOOD

PARK

WATERFORD

STURTEVANT

WEST

GREENDALE

MILWAUKEE

CORNERS

HALES

M OU NT P LE ASANT

Do ver

Nor wayRaymond

Yorkville

Caledonia

Paris Somers

M I L W A U K E E

C O .

W A U

K E S H A

C O .

R A C I N E C O .

M IL WA UK E E C O .

K E N O S H A C O .

R A C I N E C O .

MUSKEGO

NEW BERLIN

BROOKFIELD

RACINE

ST.

KENOSHA

SOUTH

CUDAHY

FRANCIS

FRANKLIN OAK

MILWAUKEE

MILWAUKEE

GREENFIELD

WEST

ALLIS

CREEK

18

241

45

41

41

45

45

36

100

119

100

32

794

59

36

31

32

38

20

20

11

11

164

38

24

59

31

142

32

32

36

24

94

94

94

43

794

894

894

43

43

94

94

41

1

1412

137

6

17

5

2

15

4

11

9

8

16

19

3

18

10

7

Map IX-2

CIVIL DIVISIONS WITHIN THE ROOT RIVER WATERSHED: 2000

PRELIMINARY DRAFT

L A K E

M I C H I G A N

NOTE: MAP REFLECTS YEAR 2000

CORPORATE LIMITS. THETOWN OF MOUNT PLEASANT

INCORPORATED TO A VILLAGE

IN THE YEAR 2003.

WATERSHED BOUNDARY

SUBWATERSHED BOUNDARY

SUBCONTINENTAL DIVIDE

Source: SEWRPC.

GRAPHIC SCALE

0 0.75 1.5 2.25 3

Miles

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000

Feet

1 CITY OF FRANKLIN

2 CITY OF GREENFIELD

3 CITY OF MILWAUKEE

4 CITY OF MUSKEGO

5 CITY OF NEW BERLIN

6 CITY OF OAK CREEK

7 CITY OF RACINE

8 CITY OF WEST ALLIS

14 VILLAGE OF CALEDONIA

9 TOWN OF DOVER

10 TOWN OF NORWAY

11 TOWN OF PARIS

12 TOWN OF RAYMOND

13 TOWN OF YORKVILLE

15 VILLAGE OF GREENDALE

16 VILLAGE OF HALES CORNERS

17 VILLAGE OF MT. PLEASANT

18 VILLAGE OF STURTEVANT

19 VILLAGE OF UNION GROVE

4

root backgrounder7!30!08

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